Bethany Backer
SAVING THE PITS:
The best and easiest way to get your hands on cherry pits is to harvest them yourself by eating a few cherries! So next time you’re enjoying nature’s candy, save the pits! Take the pits and place them in a bowl of warm water for about 5 minutes. After the 5 minutes have elapsed, scrub the pits of any leftover clinging fruit.
Spread the pits out on a paper towel or tea towel and let them dry in a warm place for 3-5 days. Once dried, transfer the dried pits into a clean airtight container with lid. Keep the pits in the refrigerator for about 10 weeks.
The reason you need to keep the pits in the fridge for 10 weeks is because cherries need to go through a cold or stratification period. This normally occurs during the cold, winter months, prior to germination in the spring. When you refrigerate the pits, you’re basically mimicking this process. Once the 10 weeks have elapsed, you may start planting!
PLANTING CHERRY TREE:
• After the 10 weeks have gone by, take the pits out of the fridge, and allow them to come to room temperature.
• Put 2 or 3 pits into a small container that is filled with potting soil and water well.
• Keep the soil moist at all times.
• Once the seedlings are about 2 inches tall, go ahead and thin them to remove the weakest plants. Leave the sturdiest seedling in the pot.
• Keep the seedling in a sunny spot, indoors, until all danger of frost has passed.
• Once all danger of frost has gone, you may go ahead and transplant outdoors.
• Space each tree about 20 feet apart.
FERTILIZING CHERRY TREE:
• Fertilize your cherry tree about once a year.
• Use a low-nitrogen fertilizer in early spring.
HARVESTING:
• A cherry tree will start to produce fruit anywhere from 3-7 years. This may seem like a long time, but it is absolutely worth it!
• Once your cherry tree has matured, it will keep producing juicy cherries season after season!
The best and easiest way to get your hands on cherry pits is to harvest them yourself by eating a few cherries! So next time you’re enjoying nature’s candy, save the pits! Take the pits and place them in a bowl of warm water for about 5 minutes. After the 5 minutes have elapsed, scrub the pits of any leftover clinging fruit.
Spread the pits out on a paper towel or tea towel and let them dry in a warm place for 3-5 days. Once dried, transfer the dried pits into a clean airtight container with lid. Keep the pits in the refrigerator for about 10 weeks.
The reason you need to keep the pits in the fridge for 10 weeks is because cherries need to go through a cold or stratification period. This normally occurs during the cold, winter months, prior to germination in the spring. When you refrigerate the pits, you’re basically mimicking this process. Once the 10 weeks have elapsed, you may start planting!
PLANTING CHERRY TREE:
• After the 10 weeks have gone by, take the pits out of the fridge, and allow them to come to room temperature.
• Put 2 or 3 pits into a small container that is filled with potting soil and water well.
• Keep the soil moist at all times.
• Once the seedlings are about 2 inches tall, go ahead and thin them to remove the weakest plants. Leave the sturdiest seedling in the pot.
• Keep the seedling in a sunny spot, indoors, until all danger of frost has passed.
• Once all danger of frost has gone, you may go ahead and transplant outdoors.
• Space each tree about 20 feet apart.
FERTILIZING CHERRY TREE:
• Fertilize your cherry tree about once a year.
• Use a low-nitrogen fertilizer in early spring.
HARVESTING:
• A cherry tree will start to produce fruit anywhere from 3-7 years. This may seem like a long time, but it is absolutely worth it!
• Once your cherry tree has matured, it will keep producing juicy cherries season after season!
